Two men remanded on bail after €140,000 drugs seizure in Cork

Two men have been remanded on bail after they were charged in connection with a €140,000 drugs seizure.

The men were arrested when officers in Cork stopped a taxi on the outskirts of the city and recovered about 2kg of cocaine.

Detectives from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit and the Gurranebraher District Drugs Unit stopped the taxi on the M8 in Glanmire as part of Operation Tara.

They found two separate packages containing the drugs and they arrested two passengers in the vehicle for questioning.

On Sunday morning, Shabakiyu Sanusi (58) and Malewis Gwei (36) were brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court where they were both charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply on the M8, Glanmire, Co Cork, on November 4th.

Mr Gwei of Alverno Drive, Willow Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath, was also charged with possession of cannabis herb and possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply at Alverno Drive, Willow Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath, on November 5th.

Mr Gwei was also charged with two further counts of possession of cannabis herb and possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply at ABS Recovery Services, Baylough, Athlone, Co Westmeath, also on November 5th.

Det Garda Rory Fogarty and Det Garda Ruairi McGovern gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to both accused, and both officers confirmed to the court that both men made no reply when the various charges were put to them after caution.

Insp Ray Dunne said that gardaí had no objection to bail for the accused once they met with certain bail conditions, and barrister Elaine Audley for Mr Sanusi and solicitor Eddie Burke for Mr Gwei both confirmed that their clients were willing to abide by the bail terms.

Gardaí were seeking that Mr Sanusi of Forest Hill Crescent, Athlone, Co Roscommon, and Mr Gwei would both sign on daily at Athlone Garda station, surrender their passports and stay out of Co Cork, except for legal or medical appointments, and both men agreed to the conditions.

Insp Dunne said that gardaí were seeking an eight-week remand on the charges for the Director of Public Prosecutions' directions and Judge Marian O'Leary remanded both accused on their own bonds with conditions to appear again at Cork District Court on January 12th.